Since 1917, the generous donation of every kind of item by individual members of the public has enriched the Museum’s Collections.

These donations have helped the Museum to illustrate and record all relevant aspects of modern war and of the individual’s experience of war and wartime life, whether allied or enemy, service or civilian, military or political, social or cultural.

We continue to welcome offers of donation from the public.  If you have an item that you think might be of interest to the Museum, please consider the following points:

• We collect every type of item including objects, books, documents, photographs, films, sound recordings, and works of art
• We collect things relating to the First World War and onwards, right up to the current conflicts
• When we add an item to the Collection it is available for use by any of the Museum’s branches
• We cannot guarantee to display an item at any branch of the Museum but it will always be available for access either in London or Duxford
• We do not give valuations for items
• If we accept an item from you for the Collection we may then lend it temporarily to other museums and exhibitions
• If we do not accept your item for the permanent Collection, it could still be of interest to us as part of a handling collection.

If you would like to offer an item to the Museum, and are currently at the Museum, please fill in the Information Form.  If you are at home or online please write a letter or send an e-mail to the most relevant collecting department. Click here to view their contact details.  If you have a group of items, spanning more than one department, you need only contact one of our departments even if you are offering several items.

In your letter or e-mail, please give us a brief description of the item(s) and if you have any details about who may have used/ written /worn the item please include this too, as this information is often of critical importance in determining an item’s historical significance. 

Please also include your telephone number or email address and tell us whether or not you are the owner of the item(s).  We would suggest that you include a photograph of the item if it is a work of art or a three-dimensional item, such as a uniform, model, or item of field equipment.

Please do not send any items to the Museum unless you have been asked to do so by a collecting department.  At this stage, we will consider your offer and contact you as soon as possible with our decision.

We look forward to hearing from you.